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By Ross Moyo
Zimbabwe Government has restored council water to Borrowdale residents for the first time in over two decades, with Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe officially opening supply as Helcraw Water and China’s Hangzhou Laison Technology begin overhauling Harare’s network with smart PVC pipes to replace old toxic asbestos lines.
ZANU PF legislator and Helcraw Water Chairman Farai Jere said the “Borrowdale upgrade directly supports Government’s thrust, positioning Helcraw as a key local partner for Hangzhou Laison Technology under a Public-Private Partnership to modernise water delivery.”
“Helcraw Supports Govt’s thrust,” the Helcraw boss told _TechnoMag_ in an exclusive interview, confirming the “project targets 320,000 houses across Harare once fully rolled out.”
Minister Garwe noted the initiative “prioritises areas with high water losses and aims to improve supply reliability in formerly underserved areas, starting with Borrowdale where taps have been dry for 20 years.”
According to Jere, “Helcraw Water is rehabilitating Morton Jaffray Waterworks to boost production from 350 to 520 megalitres per day, exceeding 300 megalitres daily in current upgrades.”
“Prepaid Meter Rollout: More than 40,000 households were fitted with prepaid water meters by April 2026, with a target of 320,000 for Harare,” said Jere.
The smart meter and pipes initiative, led by Jere, is replacing inefficient postpaid systems and aligns with Minister Garwe’s push for modernisation and revenue collection.
Infrastructure rehabilitation includes replacing toxic asbestos pipes with smart PVC pipes fitted with NB-IoT sensors from Hangzhou Laison Technology, enabling leak detection and remote valve control.
Helcraw, under Jere, is repairing distribution lines and curbing water loss to residents, particularly in areas like Borrowdale where asbestos contamination was a long-standing health risk.
“This will not just end with the City of Harare but will cascade nationwide forging strategic Partnerships with interested local and international parties,” Minister Garwe added.
Minister Garwe selected Helcraw and Laison as a trusted local partner for this rollout, despite earlier objections from Harare City Council regarding past contract performance.
Mayor Jacob Mafume later gave a thumbs up after adopting corrective measures, acknowledging that “Helcraw is revolutionising water through smart net metering just as happens with electricity.”
Logistical support is now the order of the day, with Helcraw facilitating the donation of maintenance vehicles to the City of Harare for the new PVC network and meter upkeep.
While some residents welcome improved supply, others have expressed concerns over the shift to prepaid meters, citing affordability and access.
The project has faced scrutiny over the tender process and Helcraw’s past performance, according to reports, but Jere insists “so far so good, Helcraw has stood the test of time since its introduction” as Borrowdale water flows again for the first time in 20 years.
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